Chapter 54:
Campfire
"Akashi...... Are you still mad?" ventured Sora apprehensively. Everyone was watching the second strings compete now. They would be followed by the benched members of the first string. The third string would play last.
"Why would I be?" came the stiff reply.
Sora flinched. "You're acting so formal and all."
"Am I?"
"You are."
"Then how am I supposed to behave?" he said in an exasperated tone.
"Not like this!"
"Really....." he said shaking his head. At length, he broke the silence. "You know, you look really glum for someone who won."
"Hmm." said Sora pretending to be absorbed in the game.
"Really. I've never met a person I've met who looks so dissatisfied after winning."
"Now you know me. Pleased to meet you too." said Sora dully.
Akashi looked at her, amused. "Okay. Hypothetically speaking, where did I go wrong?"
"I don't know....... You're such a sore loser!"
"Am I?" he said, genuinely surprised. "Sorry. I never meant to be."
Sora nodded. "You're so..... fixated on winning."
"Oh? You think so? In that case, I'll introduce you to....."
"Knowing one person of this kind is quite enough."
"Oh, so now you're mad." he said, with a grin.
Sora made a irritated sound.
"This isn't over you know...." he continued.
"How so?" she demanded.
"Will you people keep quiet?" interrupted Aomine. "There's a game going on. And actual people watching."
"Pipe down, Aomine-san! I think there's been a foul...." said Yukiji.
"Ssh!" hissed Akira.
Akashi nodded and everyone continued to watch the match. He suddenly leant over. "You have a lot to answer for now, you know. This isn't over." he whispered gently to Sora and continued to watch the match. Sora glanced at him and for no reason blushed just a little. His tone... "Why...." she began and then shook her head and continued to watch the match.
---------------------------------------
"This is a really sucky campfire." commented Akira. Everyone was sitting around small fire roasting marshmallows. They were too tired to do anything else.
"I agree." said Yukiji. "No one's even singing."
"I guess we should be glad even for some off time...." said Sora.
"Why don't we take turns singing?" suggested Satsuki.
"Umm, Suki-chan, I'm sure Yukiji-san didn't mean it that way." said Sora.
"Who's going first?" said Satsuki. "Tetsu-kun!"
"Umm, I don't know too many songs." said Kuroko.
"That's okay." said Akira. "Just give it all you've got."
Kuroko sang a short verse.
"Not bad, Kuroko-san!" said Sora clapping.
"You've nailed it." said Akira.
"Okay, so who's next?" said Yukiji.
"Why don't you try, Yuki-san?" said Satsuki.
"Okay." said Yukiji. She sang too.
"Nice!" said Sora.
"Next?" said Satsuki.
"I'll try, nanodayo." said Midorima.
"Okay."
Midorima sang a really traditional song. "Oi, which century is this song from?" said Aomine.
"It's not that old, nanodayo." said Midorima.
"Why don't you sing, aho?" said Akira.
"So you can tease me? No thanks." said Aomine.
"I swear I won't comment." said Akira.
"Not buying it."
"Mine-kun! Don't be so stubborn." said Satsuki.
"I don't sing, woman. What the hell are you trying to prove?"
Luckily for Aomine, everyone was called in.
"Right. Let's go. Night, night people." said Aomine.
"There are other campfires you know...." reminded Akira.
"There are other ways to escape." countered Aomine.